37 Facts About Central African Republic Most People Get Wrong

The CAR is one of the world's least-visited countries.

It contains the Dzanga-Sangha reserve, one of the last refuges of forest elephants.

Diamond mining is a major part of the economy.

The country has had over 10 coups or coup attempts since independence.

The CAR is almost entirely within the Congo Basin, the world's second-largest tropical rainforest and the planet's second-largest carbon sink.

The Dzanga Bai forest clearing is one of the best places in Africa to watch forest elephants; up to 100 can gather at the salt lick at once.

Emperor Bokassa I held a coronation modeled on Napoleon's in 1976 that cost $30 million, roughly a quarter of the country's entire GDP at the time.

French troops overthrew Emperor Bokassa in 1979 after he allegedly participated in the massacre of over 100 schoolchildren who refused to wear school uniforms he mandated.

The country sits at the geographic heart of Africa; N'Dele is almost exactly the geographic center of the African continent.

The CAR produces some of the finest alluvial diamonds in the world; gem-quality stones have been found in rivers throughout the southwest.

The Ubangi River forms the entire southern border of the CAR with the Democratic Republic of Congo and is one of the longest rivers in Central Africa.

The CAR has the world's lowest average income per capita despite sitting on enormous mineral wealth, including diamonds, gold, and uranium.

Aka Pygmies of the CAR's southwestern rainforests have lived in the Congo Basin for tens of thousands of years and are considered one of Africa's original human populations.

The Aka Pygmies' polyphonic singing tradition is listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage; their music uses intricate overlapping vocal patterns unlike any other tradition.

The armed conflict between Seleka rebels and Anti-Balaka militias that began in 2012 left the CAR in a near-permanent state of civil war.

Russian Wagner Group mercenaries have operated in the CAR since 2018, providing security to the government in exchange for mining concessions.

The Chinko Nature Reserve, established in 2014, is the size of Switzerland and is being managed as a wilderness restoration project.

The CAR has no railway and only a few hundred kilometers of paved road, making the vast interior almost entirely inaccessible during the rainy season.

Large populations of the world's largest antelope (Lord Derby's Eland), African wild dog, and lion still exist in the CAR's northeastern savannas.

The CAR gained independence from France in 1960 under Barthelemy Boganda, who died in a mysterious plane crash months before independence.

Timber is a major CAR export; French and Chinese companies control much of the country's logging concessions in the tropical forests.

The CAR shares borders with six countries: Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, the DRC, and the Republic of Congo.

Bangui, the capital, sits on the north bank of the Ubangi River and is home to over 900,000 people, nearly a quarter of the country's total population.

Kimberlite pipes, volcanic conduits that bring diamonds to the surface, are scattered across the CAR; most have never been explored.

The CAR's Bayanga region shelters Western Lowland Gorillas, Bongo antelopes, and the rare Forest Buffalo in terrain virtually unchanged for millennia.

The Dzanga-Sangha Complex of Protected Areas has been jointly managed by the World Wildlife Fund and the CAR government since 1990, one of Africa's earliest community-conservation partnerships.

Central African Republic is located in Central Africa, Africa, with its capital city in Bangui.

The population of Central African Republic is approximately 5.5M, spread across 622,984 km² of territory.

Central African Republic has a population density of 9/km²: one of the most sparsely populated countries on Earth.

Central African Republic is a landlocked country with no coastline, relying entirely on neighbouring countries for access to international trade routes.

Central African Republic shares land borders with 7 countries: Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, DR Congo, DR Congo, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo.

The official languages of Central African Republic are French / Sango.

Central African Republic uses the Central African CFA Franc (XAF) as its official currency.

Central African Republic gained independence in 1960, establishing itself as a sovereign nation in Central Africa.

The total GDP of Central African Republic is $2.5B, with a GDP per capita of $455, classifying it as a developing economy.

Central African Republic has a tropical, dry season november–march climate, with the best time to visit being November–April.

Central African Republic is considered a Budget destination for travellers, with meals averaging $3–7.

🦍 Dzanga-Sangha Reserve

UNESCO tropical rainforest, one of the last refuges of forest elephants and western gorillas

🦁 Manovo-Gounda St Floris Park

UNESCO national park with diverse savanna wildlife, lions, leopards and elephants

💧 Boali Falls

A 50m waterfall on the Mbali River, one of Central Africa's most spectacular natural sights

🌊 Bangui Riverfront

The capital's waterfront along the Ubangi River, with colorful markets and river life